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Sun, sea, and self-harm scars (part 1)

Scars from self-harm affect so many people. Regardless of whether you have scratches, scalds, or stitched up cuts, the act of showing them is your choice. I am a huge advocate for being transparent when it comes to mental health, however for one reason or another some of us need to hide the history we have on our skin.

In winter, finding clothes to cover up isn’t such an issue. Come summertime, however, finding clothes that don’t make us feel like we’re being slow roasted by the sun can be a problem.

For years I wore hoodies and skinny jeans in 30°C so that the people around me wouldn’t see my scars. Some days, I wouldn’t even leave the house if it was hot, which becomes increasingly difficult as you get older.

So here are some outfit ideas that you can take inspiration from that won’t cause the ‘aren’t you hot in that?’ fiasco. All these outfit ideas are fairly affordable, and variations of them to suit your own style can be found in Primark, H&M and charity shops around this time of year.

(DISCLAIMER: I am not a fashion guru. These are ideas you can tailor to your own tastes.)

Swimwear

I’m gonna be honest, this is a difficult thing to combat. Normally when you go swimming people see almost everything. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Long sleeved swimsuits come in all sorts of colours and are suitable for all sizes. If you have scars on your arms, these are perfect for going to the pool or swimming at the beach.

This one piece swimsuit from Rosegal is pretty, covering, and most importantly: subtle.

This particular suit costs $22.41 which currently is about £17. Rosegal offers free shipping internationally and have a plus size range if you are a fuller bodied person like me.

One thing to watch out for, however, is their sizes. Make sure to use the size charts they have and remember that US sizes differ from UK sizes. For example, a US 14 is the equivalent to a UK 18.

Sarongs and long skirts

If you have scars on your legs or thighs, it is quite easy to find a sarong. Sarongs are a skirt-type wrap that people often wear to the beach.

Despite the dark colour, the material these items are made of are intentionally thin and airy as they are designed for beachwear. Black is also simple and versatile.

The simplicity of a sarong is that it is easy to remove, so if you get a few moments away from the group, you can still move it off your legs to catch some sun.

Unlike a white sarong, it is unlikely to be see-through.

Board shorts

These items cover beachwear, but there is still the issue of hiding self-harm scars on your legs when you go swimming at indoor pools. If this is an issue, which it might be if you are on a family holiday,

Board shorts are a great way to cover up your thighs if they are an area you wish to keep hidden.

Honestly, the board shorts in the ‘male’ swimwear section are usually better, like these AMAZING pineapple shorts from Sports Direct costing £4.

Next week I will be posting the second part to this blog, which will be all about other fashion ideas you can wear to stay cool but covered in this ridiculous summer heat.

Remember:

You do not owe anyone an explanation.

It is your choice if you want to show your scars, and if you don’t want to, you do not have to justify that because someone is asking questions.